The Queensland Government has announced it has secured critical interim school funding from the Commonwealth Government for the 2025 school year.
It said the funding provides certainty for state and non-state schools by continuing the existing Commonwealth and Queensland shares of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).
The current agreement expires on 31 December 2024.
It said that without the new funding agreements, Queensland’s Catholic and Independent schools would have received no Commonwealth Government funding for the 2025 school year.
Under the interim agreement, the Commonwealth Government will continue to provide 20 per cent of the SRS for state schools.
The Interim School Funding Agreement 2025, and associated Bilateral Agreement, was the best option to ensure federal funding reached Queensland schools from the start of 2025, the state government said.
Under Commonwealth legislation, Queensland must sign a national agreement and bilateral agreement to receive annual federal funding for state and non-state schools in 2025.
Education Minister Mr John-Paul Langbroek said the Queensland Government would focus on negotiating a better long-term deal for Queensland.
He was critical of the former government which, he said, had nine months and failed to secure a better funding deal for Queensland schools.
“It’s seriously concerning how close Queensland schools came to receiving no Commonwealth funding under Labor’s watch,” Minister Langbroek said.
“Queensland’s schools deserve better, and our students deserve better. We will use the next year to fight tooth and nail to ensure Queensland schools receive their fair share of funding from the Commonwealth Government.”
Minister Langbroek said a better deal will recognise the needs of students and families across the state and aims to deliver a Commonwealth share of 25 per cent of the SRS for state schools.
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